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Getting life back

Locals get back to daily life after Royal Gorge Fire

By Charlotte Burrous

burrousc@canoncitydailyrecord.com

Posted:
06/16/2013 09:12:44 PM MDT

In an attempt to get back to normal, Britt Colon, from left, and Lisa Hyams, wait while Jenny Gatzke, J.D. and Fred Wynkoop shop during the CCFA Farmers Market on Saturday. (Charlotte Burrous/Charlotte Burrous)

Nolan Tobias, left, visits with Dale Decatur, of Made in Colorado Fudge, about getting back to normal after the Royal Gorge Fire on Saturday at the CCFA Farmers Market. (Charlotte Burrous /Daily Record)

In an attempt to get back to normal, residents went about their business Saturday, shopping at the CCFA Farmers Market on the Abbey campus while talking about the events of the past week.

"The fire was devastating. That's our backyard," said Britt Colon, of Colon's Orchard. "To me, the gorge is like my church and it's just shock and devastation, but I know we will survive. The fact there were no fatalities (is good). There is personal loss, but that can be replaced. I believe we will bounce back."

Dealing with the smoke was hard for D.J. and Fred Wynkoop, who live in Florence.

"We work in (Colorado) Springs," she said. "We've had a lot of co-workers that have been affected. Some lost their homes (in the Black Forest Fire)."

Fred said it was sad for the locals, as well.

"We feel sorry about the gorge," he said. "The workers are gone. They say it's going to affect tourist traffic for awhile. It won't be up and running until next year. It's a big draw for through traffic."

In the meantime, Marie and Joe Vernarsky shopped at the market, looking to return to everyday life.

"I'm glad the smoke is gone," she said. "I'm glad nobody was hurt."

It was the same for Joe.

"I think our local fire department and those who helped them did a fantastic job," he said. "We're really thankful for all the help here in Cañon."

In the same vein, CCFA Market Manager Beki Javernick Guion said it was nice to return to normal.

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"We're really fortunate to have water at the farm," she said. "(The fire) didn't affect our production much. I think the thing it will affect the most is the traffic going through. I just feel terrible for all the rafting companies and the gorge."

Even though there's water right now, the rafters cannot go through the Royal Gorge.

"What a loss of business," Javernick Guion said. "We roll with the punches no matter where we are."

On the other hand, she said the produce is behind three to four weeks because of the cooler spring.

"A lot of the farms out east don't have water because a lot of the wells were called," Javernick Guion said. "They don't have water to use. It's been cut way down on things."

The fire and the drought makes it tough on everybody.

But the area will bounce back, she reiterated.

"More important than anything (is) to support the local community, the farmers markets and your local businesses because they're going to take a big hit from the tourists not going through," Javernick Guion said. "I think it's really important to support anything local if possible."

It was hard on James Ross, of Bijah Novelties, as well.

"There was a couple days, the smoke was so (thick it was hard to breathe)," he said. "I've got bronchitis.

So he shut the swamp cooler off and turned the air conditioner on, which helped him.

"Whenever the smoke is coming your way, you figure the fire is coming your way too," Ross said. "It was scary."

But he said he was grateful for the officials who handled the incident.

"Credit needs to go to these police officers," Ross said. "They do such a tremendous job. It doesn't seem like they get the credit they deserve."

As Dale Decatur sat in his Made in Colorado Fudge booth, Nolan Tobias stopped by to talk to him.

"Personally, one problem we have are the weeds that people let go in the fields," he said. "It just takes a spark. That's just that much more (fuel)."

Tobias, who is from Cripple Creek, said he was driving through the area when the fire started.

"If the wind had turned to the west, I would have been sweating apples," he said. "Oklahoma has tornados; we have fires. What's the difference? They're both destructive."

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